this is my 1st season in D1. i just have a few questions so that i can plan for the future in regards to recruiting, class sizes, job changes, etc. what kind of resume do i have to build up here at Bucknell to eventually get a mid-major job? once i get to a mid-major, should i plan to stay there for an extended period of time and attempt to be moderately successful, so i can then eventually move to a decent big conference school? or should i take my 1st opportunity to move to a lower prestige big conference school and then build them up? thanks in advance for any insight.

Totally depends on you and what you want to do.
One of the hardest things to do is take over a bottom feeder Big-6 team and make them a winner. Unless you fully understand how the current D1 game works.
Bucknell isn't a bad gig to play at for awhile and learn the ropes.
My advice would probably be to look at a decent mid-major 3-4 seasons down the road, when your able to move again. (Mo Valley, A-10, C-USA, etc).
It's much more fun (for most folks), to win 20 games in a half empty conference for a few seasons... than to get drilled 20+ times a season trying to make Minnesota something you just can't make them.
Once you have several seasons under your belt at D1, you can begin to be selective about the mid-level Big-6 teams that open up... some of those are great places to then move into and prosper from. (Better prestige, more recruiting cash, etc.)
Or you could make Bucknell a power and jump to the mid-level range from there.
Don't underestimate how complex D1 is. Some of the things that mean nothing in D3 or D2 are huge factors in your success at D1.

Most importantly.... you can't and won't be winning any titles real soon.... don't let that be a big disappointment.
#1 priority should be to have fun.
If you make it a grind and expect to coach UCLA in 2012... or quit. You're just not going to enjoy the ride much.
The fun part about a trip needs to be what you do and see along the way... as well as the destination.
Otherwise the destination may not live up to your expectations.

I was at Mercer for 4 years, then St. Louis for 8 years, then took over Georgia. Could have gotten a Big 6 school a year or two earlier, but wanted to stay at St. Louis. Left to take the "Dream Job" for me at Georgia.

I spent four years at Sacred Heart in Knight and made the NT in the final three seasons and when  C+ Providence opened up I jumped at it.   It took three seasons to get Providence into the NT and 11 seasons and a couple of Elite 8 finishes to earn the Syracuse job. The only job I'd leave upstate New York for would be North Carolina, so I'm here for a while.

thanks for all the thoughts guys